Raj Bhala Keynote Speaker

Inaugural Brenneisen Distinguished Prof, KU Law
Twice won Fed Reserve Bank NY President’s Award for Excellence
Authored 13 books, including 8-volume “International Trade Law”

Raj Bhala's Biography

Raj Bhala is one of the world’s foremost experts on international trade, widely recognized for blending scholarly depth with practical, results-driven insights. He holds the inaugural Brenneisen Distinguished Professorship at the University of Kansas School of Law, where he teaches International Trade Law, Law and Literature, and Islamic Law. A Fulbright Specialist and member of the U.S. State Department’s Speaker Program, he has taught globally and is among Ingram’s “50 Kansans You Should Know.”

Raj practiced international banking law at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, earning the President’s Award for Excellence on two occasions for his service as a U.S. delegate to UNCITRAL. He also served as Senior Advisor to Dentons, advising governments, multinational corporations, and NGOs on WTO law, free trade agreements, and American trade measures. A graduate of Harvard Law School (cum laude), he completed Master’s degrees at the London School of Economics and Oxford as a Marshall Scholar, and earned his undergraduate degree at Duke (summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa).

An active member of the London-based IBA, the Tokyo-based IPBA, the Royal Society for Asian Affairs, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Indian Society of International Law, Raj’s influence spans continents. He has authored 13 books and over 100 articles, notably the eight-volume International Trade Law: A Comprehensive E-Textbook, now in its sixth edition and free to access. In 2024, he received the Shulenburger Award for Innovation & Advocacy in Scholarly Communication for his efforts to make legal education more accessible. Through his engaging “Big Idea” presentations, he connects high-level trade policy to the timeless lessons of Shakespeare’s stage, showcasing a liberal arts approach that inspires, informs, and equips global audiences for the challenges of rapidly shifting trade landscapes.

Global Trade and WTO Reform

U.S. Tariffs Laws and Policies

Trade and National Security

Trade and Developing Countries

Navigating U.S.-Asia Trade Relations

The U.S.-China Trade War

Trade Law and Policy of India

Free Trade Agreements

Critical Thinking and Legal Writing

Law, Literature, and Rhetoric: A Shakespearean Approach

Islamic Law in a Modern Context

Ethical Dimensions of International Commerce

He brings rare authority from advising governments, multinationals and NGOs on WTO law, free trade agreements and national trade measures, helping leaders navigate disputes, compliance and market access with confidence.
He pairs frontline experience in international banking and treaty work, including service as a U.S. delegate to UNCITRAL at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, with rigorous legal scholarship that turns trade complexity into clear strategic choices.
He is a prolific thought leader with 13 books and more than 100 articles, including the widely used multi-volume International Trade Law textbook, equipping executives and policymakers with frameworks to interpret shifting rules, risks and opportunities.
He delivers engaging “Big Idea” keynotes that connect trade policy to Shakespeare and the liberal arts, helping global audiences think more critically about power, negotiation and the human drivers behind economic change.
He helps boards and senior teams anticipate how tariffs, industrial policy, supply chain realignment and geopolitical fragmentation will reshape growth plans, investment decisions and stakeholder communications.